Comments on: Exposing the past of BBC 2.0 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/ Business, Communication, Technology Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:33:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: AccMan Pro - Dennis Howlett on innovation for professional accountants » BBC search and the irrelevance of accountants http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1382 AccMan Pro - Dennis Howlett on innovation for professional accountants » BBC search and the irrelevance of accountants Sun, 30 Apr 2006 05:19:05 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1382 [...] BBC search and the irrelevance of accountants By Dennis Howlett The BBC is test driving this incredible SaaS search tool for searching its archives. I’ve been diving around making comments that talk to the commercialisation of the BBC at Drew Benvie’s place and Neville Hobson’s. [...] [...] BBC search and the irrelevance of accountants By Dennis Howlett The BBC is test driving this incredible SaaS search tool for searching its archives. I’ve been diving around making comments that talk to the commercialisation of the BBC at Drew Benvie’s place and Neville Hobson’s. [...]

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1379 Dennis Howlett Sun, 30 Apr 2006 02:01:05 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1379 A bit of fun - if you want to do a REAL EgoSurf, go to the site and do a search on some of your blog pals - ahem (you're there Neville - look at the 'earlier' reference - I didn't click through but Baby of the Year sprung to mind :) :)). So Am I - boy does that bring back memories. I'll blog those next week. Then I got carried away. Do Larry Ellison or Bill Gates. Now think about our current research and how we compare with the past. Now we can do interactive fact checking, interpreting the present in the context of the past. Developing social history in real-time. Just as we're theorising now. That IS exciting. A bit of fun - if you want to do a REAL EgoSurf, go to the site and do a search on some of your blog pals - ahem (you’re there Neville - look at the ‘earlier’ reference - I didn’t click through but Baby of the Year sprung to mind :) :)). So Am I - boy does that bring back memories. I’ll blog those next week.

Then I got carried away. Do Larry Ellison or Bill Gates. Now think about our current research and how we compare with the past. Now we can do interactive fact checking, interpreting the present in the context of the past. Developing social history in real-time. Just as we’re theorising now. That IS exciting.

]]> By: neville http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1377 neville Sat, 29 Apr 2006 17:18:09 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1377 Dennis, a bit of social media here and there (blogs and podcasts) plugged-in to websites is purely a jumping-off point. So I'd argue they are hardly there at all (although far further along than any other UK broadcaster, if not any other anywhere). That's one of the interesting things about their announcements this week - where they want to get to. The 'how' is the key thing, which I think will have a lot to do with your point re public service ethos. But that's also part of the seismic shift the BBC speaks about - changes in attitudes alongside changes in people's behaviours and expectations. Craig, that INA site is still being hammered: I just get a server error on that link. Dennis, a bit of social media here and there (blogs and podcasts) plugged-in to websites is purely a jumping-off point. So I’d argue they are hardly there at all (although far further along than any other UK broadcaster, if not any other anywhere).

That’s one of the interesting things about their announcements this week - where they want to get to.

The ‘how’ is the key thing, which I think will have a lot to do with your point re public service ethos. But that’s also part of the seismic shift the BBC speaks about - changes in attitudes alongside changes in people’s behaviours and expectations.

Craig, that INA site is still being hammered: I just get a server error on that link.

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1375 Dennis Howlett Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:25:23 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1375 It's an interesting theory Neville and you can argue they're kind of there already. The bigger question (as always in these things) is the extent to which BBC can move the entire culture forward to match the challenges of global business as compared with public service. It can be argued the BBC already has global attention through World Service and language specific services but those are delivered within the context of a public service culture. That's very different from being a full blown commercial entity. The trick will be to maintain the public service ethos whie concurrently building the commerical agenda. I think it can be done but it wil be a neat trick to pull off - assuming of course that our speculation/interpretation is vaguely correct. Let's not be too harsh on INA. From what I know technically about these projects, there are a number of variables around which it's almost impossible to predict what will happen. Remember the UKs problems with opening up the census? Scale is something you try to anticipate but which you build as you go (salesforce.com). It’s an interesting theory Neville and you can argue they’re kind of there already. The bigger question (as always in these things) is the extent to which BBC can move the entire culture forward to match the challenges of global business as compared with public service.

It can be argued the BBC already has global attention through World Service and language specific services but those are delivered within the context of a public service culture. That’s very different from being a full blown commercial entity.

The trick will be to maintain the public service ethos whie concurrently building the commerical agenda. I think it can be done but it wil be a neat trick to pull off - assuming of course that our speculation/interpretation is vaguely correct.

Let’s not be too harsh on INA. From what I know technically about these projects, there are a number of variables around which it’s almost impossible to predict what will happen. Remember the UKs problems with opening up the census? Scale is something you try to anticipate but which you build as you go (salesforce.com).

]]> By: Craig McGinty http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1366 Craig McGinty Sat, 29 Apr 2006 08:06:18 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1366 The French site is not very Web 2.0 with no option to tag videos etc. but I suppose the most difficult bit is out of the way in actually getting such a range of items up and running. It is good to see both the English and Chinese language being supported, for example here is a collection of clips on Bob Marley: http://www.ina.fr/actualite/dossiers/2005/Fevrier2005.en.html I just hope they get a few more boxes and bandwidth so people can actully watch the clips! The French site is not very Web 2.0 with no option to tag videos etc. but I suppose the most difficult bit is out of the way in actually getting such a range of items up and running.

It is good to see both the English and Chinese language being supported, for example here is a collection of clips on Bob Marley:

http://www.ina.fr/actualite/dossiers/2005/Fevrier2005.en.html

I just hope they get a few more boxes and bandwidth so people can actully watch the clips!

]]> By: neville http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1364 neville Sat, 29 Apr 2006 06:49:16 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1364 That site is really geting hammered, Dennis, just server gateway errors every time I go there. But the <a href="http://www.ina.fr/index.en.html" rel="nofollow">main page</a> is reachable. Interesting to note that the site offers Chinese as a language option, in addition to French and English. Re scale, I'd have thought that we're looking at plans that must be global in nature. Maybe some years out, so UK first. But think of the opportunities for BBC 2.0 and audiences in a global context. (By the way, I edited how the link in your comment is displayed. The long URL you typed played havoc with the Conversations widget in the sidebar.) That site is really geting hammered, Dennis, just server gateway errors every time I go there. But the main page is reachable. Interesting to note that the site offers Chinese as a language option, in addition to French and English.

Re scale, I’d have thought that we’re looking at plans that must be global in nature. Maybe some years out, so UK first. But think of the opportunities for BBC 2.0 and audiences in a global context.

(By the way, I edited how the link in your comment is displayed. The long URL you typed played havoc with the Conversations widget in the sidebar.)

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1358 Dennis Howlett Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:35:38 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1358 [<a href="http://www.ina.fr/archives/fonds/index.en.html">INA link</a>] provides an explanatiojn in English of what it contains, how it's organised etc. I've not been through it but it looks pretty comprehensive. But I don't have an objective way to compare. [INA link] provides an explanatiojn in English of what it contains, how it’s organised etc. I’ve not been through it but it looks pretty comprehensive. But I don’t have an objective way to compare.

]]> By: Dennis Howlett http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1357 Dennis Howlett Fri, 28 Apr 2006 22:30:38 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1357 That's certainly an interesting take on the scale thing. Not sure I'd agree unless it adds value in the eyes of the British public which, as you say, has a strong affection for Auntie. It might be a tricky thing. I do know that Beeb content broadcast in other territories carries ads. Heck - Sky does it! But all this is speculative anyway. The more interesting thing from my perspective is how, for the first time, it is moderately easy for the likes of thee and me to dream up scenarios that have bags of mutual goodness attached to them without losing sight of economic necessity. Traditionally - we'd be mortal enemies. I wonder how many people spot that? That’s certainly an interesting take on the scale thing. Not sure I’d agree unless it adds value in the eyes of the British public which, as you say, has a strong affection for Auntie. It might be a tricky thing. I do know that Beeb content broadcast in other territories carries ads. Heck - Sky does it! But all this is speculative anyway.

The more interesting thing from my perspective is how, for the first time, it is moderately easy for the likes of thee and me to dream up scenarios that have bags of mutual goodness attached to them without losing sight of economic necessity. Traditionally - we’d be mortal enemies. I wonder how many people spot that?

]]> By: neville http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1353 neville Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:30:14 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1353 Thanks for that link, Craig. So does the French equivalent of the BBC have similar plans as the BBC's, do you know? Thanks for that link, Craig. So does the French equivalent of the BBC have similar plans as the BBC’s, do you know?

]]> By: neville http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1352 neville Fri, 28 Apr 2006 19:27:58 +0000 http://www.nevillehobson.com/2006/04/27/exposing-the-past-of-bbc-20/#comment-1352 Dennis, I've talked about the death of mass media, not mainstream media. There is a difference: <ul><li>Mainstream media = media organizations, eg, broadcasters, newspaper publishers.</li><li>Mass media = the newspapers, TV programmes, etc, produced and distributed to mass audiences (passive receivers) by the media organizations.</li></ul> I don't think the license fee will disappear any time soon (soon = within 3 years). A political and cultural hot potato. Yet I also think it's inevitable that it will eventually as the BBC evolves in tandem with how people's needs and expectations evolve. And those changing needs and expectations are at the heart of what the BBC is planning to do and why they're going to do it. The Guardian? Hmm, interesting idea. I can imagine an evolving BBC being associated with another mainstream medium if that medium fits the objectives of the BBC's plans (see the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/speeches/stories/thompson_fleming.shtml" rel="nofollow">speech by Mark Thompson</a>, BBC Director-General, for an idea of how it could). I wouldn't have thought The Guardian, though. Too small scale. I could imagine a global publisher, one with a presence and evolving plans in other key markets, eg, the US, or countries with historical and cultural ties to the UK where those ties would offer an advantageous entry point (India springs to mind). Dennis, I’ve talked about the death of mass media, not mainstream media.

There is a difference:

  • Mainstream media = media organizations, eg, broadcasters, newspaper publishers.
  • Mass media = the newspapers, TV programmes, etc, produced and distributed to mass audiences (passive receivers) by the media organizations.

I don’t think the license fee will disappear any time soon (soon = within 3 years). A political and cultural hot potato. Yet I also think it’s inevitable that it will eventually as the BBC evolves in tandem with how people’s needs and expectations evolve. And those changing needs and expectations are at the heart of what the BBC is planning to do and why they’re going to do it.

The Guardian? Hmm, interesting idea. I can imagine an evolving BBC being associated with another mainstream medium if that medium fits the objectives of the BBC’s plans (see the speech by Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General, for an idea of how it could).

I wouldn’t have thought The Guardian, though. Too small scale. I could imagine a global publisher, one with a presence and evolving plans in other key markets, eg, the US, or countries with historical and cultural ties to the UK where those ties would offer an advantageous entry point (India springs to mind).

]]>